Difference between Reliance, Tata Telecom and Airtel
The Indian telecommunication industry is the fastest growing telecommunication industry in the world. As far as wireless connections are concerned, the Indian industry has the second largest telecommunication network, save China. If we extrapolate the growth in network, it can be predicted that India will overcome China in total subscriber numbers by 2013. Along with a state owned operator BSNL, Indian industry is filled with a number of private operators and telecom companies such as Airtel, Tata, Idea, Aircel, Loop mobile, Vodafone and so on. Many factors including economic growth, increment in consumers’ income and large population, have made Indian industry the fastest growing in the world. Let’s compare three of the most popular private telecom companies in India.
Operator and Ownership
Airtel is the brand name of the service provided by the telecom company called Bharti Airtel Ltd. or Bharti Tele Ventures Ltd. It is headed by Sunil Bharti Mittal. Its ownership comprises of Bharti Enterprises (64.76%), Singapore Telecommunications (32%) and Vodafone (4.4%). It outsources everything except marketing, sales and finance. Reliance communications is owned by Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. It was formerly called Reliance Infocomm. Tata Teleservices Ltd. is a part of Tata Group. It has three operators: Tata Indicom, Tata DOCOMO and Virgin Mobile India.
Subscribers
The subscriber count for these three companies until June 2010 was as follows: Airtel with a subscriber count of 139.75 million proved to be the largest telecom company in India. Reliance stood second with 109.15 million subscribers (May 2010). Tata Teleservices lagged behind with a subscriber count of 71.39 million. As far as ranking is concerned Airtel secures the first position followed by Reliance. Tata Telecom secures fourth position after Vodafone Essar.
Network
Airtel offers its services in 19 countries. It has its subscriber base in 19 states and 4 metro cities in India. Tata Teleservices is spread across 20 circles throughout India. It was first Telecom Company to launch CDMA mobile service in India (Andhra Pradesh circle). Reliance covers 24,000 towns and 600,000 villages in India.
Technology
Airtel uses GSM and EDGE. Reliance uses various technologies such as CDMA 2000 1x, GSM, WiMAX, EDGE and EVDO. Tata uses CDMA in Tata Indicom, GSM in Tata DOCOMO and both these technologies in Virgin Mobiles.
Summary
Airtel
- Airtel is the brand name of the service provided by the telecom company called Bharti Airtel Ltd.
- Airtel has a subscriber count of 139.75 million (June 2010).
- Offers its services in 19 countries.
- Uses GSM and EDGE technologies.
Reliance
- Reliance communications is owned by Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.
- Had 109.15 million subscribers in May 2010.
- Reliance covers 24,000 towns and 600,000 villages in India.
- Reliance uses various technologies such as CDMA 2000 1x, GSM, WiMAX, EDGE and EVDO.
Tata Telecom
- It has three operators: Tata Indicom, Tata DOCOMO and Virgin Mobile India.
- Tata Teleservices had subscriber count of 71.39 million in June 2010.
- It was first Telecom Company to launch CDMA mobile service in India (Andhra Pradesh circle).
- Tata uses CDMA in Tata Indicom, GSM in Tata DOCOMO and both these technologies in Virgin Mobiles.
